Chris Harris with the Lombardi trophy after returning from Super Bowl 50 in February. (Kathryn Scott Osler, The Denver Post)

The wait is almost over football fans. It’s nearly time to see the slate the Broncos will have to face to defend their Super Bowl championship.

The NFL announced that the 2016 regular season schedule will be released Thursday night at 6 p.m. mountain time on NFL Network.

What we already know is that the Broncos will host the first game of the regular season Thursday, Sept. 8. A few of their most likely opponents for that game — Houston and the return of quarterback Brock Osweiler, Carolina and a Super Bowl 50 rematch, Indianapolis and a potential Peyton Manning tribute or New England kicking off another installment of the bitter AFC rivalry.

The rest of the Broncos home games will be division dates with Kansas City, Oakland, San Diego and welcoming Atlanta to the Mile High city.

The Broncos’ strength of schedule based on their opponents’ 2016 record ranks 14th at .504 winning percentage, per the NFL. The Falcons have the toughest strength of schedule at .555. The Packers have the easiest road with a .457 strength of schedule.

The regular season will conclude Sunday, Jan. 1, 2017 and Super Bowl LI will be held in Houston on Sunday, Feb. 5, 2017.

Denver Post file)” width=”495″ height=”354″ class=”size-large wp-image-39227″ /> Rangeview wide receiver JohnTidwell, front, reaches out for a pass as Arapahoe cornerback Blake Nelson covers in the second quarter of the team’s Class 5A, East Metro Conference high school football game in Aurora, Colo., Sept. 2, 2010 (Denver Post file)

Nine prospects were invited to the Broncos local pro day Tuesday with a chance to show off their talents in front of all of the Broncos decision makers.

At least one, former Rangeview High cornerback John Tidwell, took full advantage of his opportunity. He received a call just 10 minutes after his pro day saying the front office and coaches were impressed with his performance, per his agent.

Tidwell, 6-foot, 191 pounds, was the cornerback invited to the local pro day. His speed, instincts and versatility as a returner stood out. He starred at the University of Sioux Falls, a Division II college in South Dakota.

The Vikings and Jaguars have also expressed interest in Tidwell so the Broncos could have competition in Tidwell as an undrafted free agent or possibly a late round draft choice.

Aqib Talib thought his teammate would be voted off after only Week 1. But after Von Miller’s latest performance on “Dancing With the Stars,” it may be safe to assume he’ll stick around for a little while longer.

Miller and partner Witney Carson performed a Cinderella-themed Viennese Waltz on Monday for the show’s “Disney Night” and earned a team-high 32 points.

Max McCaffrey, the former Duke receiver and the oldest son of Ed McCaffrey, will work out for the Broncos on Tuesday as part of the team’s local pro day for athletes from area high schools.

Max, a former Valor Christian standout, turned heads with his performance at Duke’s Pro Day last month, when he recorded a 4.4-second 40-yard dash and a 36-inch vertical jump.

Last season he led the Blue Devils with 52 catches, 643 receiving yards and five touchdowns to cap his four-year career with 117 receptions, 1,341 yards and 12 touchdowns.

The Broncos’ recent re-signing of Jordan Norwood gives them six receivers heading into offseason workouts and training camp, with Demaryius Thomas, Emmanuel Sanders, Bennie Fowler, Cody Latimer and Jordan Taylor all returning. Should Max impress again Tuesday, the Broncos could give him a shot to compete in training camp and even vie for a spot on the practice squad.

Ben Clarke, a former Chatfield High and University of Hawaii offensive lineman, is also scheduled to work out for the Broncos on Tuesday.

Clarke (6-foot-3, 305 pounds) played his first two collegiate seasons at center before shifting to left tackle for the last two. In 2015, he was named Hawaii’s MVP and was an honorable mention All-Mountain West selection for all four year seasons with the Rainbow Warriors.Read more…

Miller was a guest on the premier of Season 3 of SKEE TV on Fuse (airs Friday at 10 p.m. ET/PT) and opened up to DJ Skee about his dances and fines, which recently have become package deals.

Miller wasn’t shy about pushing the NFL’s limits with his sack dances last season, even accepting an $11,567 fine for his Key & Peele dance at Detroit. Broncos players also instituted a fine system for Miller’s flatulence.

“I actually came up with this fine,” Miller told DJ Skee. “Me and Witney were talking and she kinda thought I was going to be the lackadaisical type to come in and not really work. I was like, ‘Witney, I’m not going to be late. I will let you fine me $100 for every minute.’ So far it’s up to $1,500, but that’s 15 minutes over three weeks. So I’m gonna be good. I respect her time. She’s a pro. I’m a pro. I know what it’s about, I know how to be on time. She knows how to be on time. I respect everything that she’s doing for me, so I’m going to be on time.”

Miller also revealed that while he hasn’t had time to come up with a new sack dance, Carson has taken on the task of creating one for him. Unclear if this one will be fineable.

Quarterback Peyton Manning (18) of the Denver Broncos runs and gains 11 yards and a first down in the third quarter. The Denver Broncos played the New England Patriots in the AFC championship game at Sports Authority Field at Mile High in Denver on Jan. 24, 2015. (Helen H. Richardson, The Denver Post)

Peyton Manning seems to be enjoying his retirement.

The former Broncos quarterback sang “Rocky Top” at Winners Bar and Grill on Monday in Nashville, Tenn., with country singer Lee Brice.

The NFL announced Tuesday that they have done away with the league-ran rookie symposium and replaced it with a new rookie transition program hosted by each NFL team.

The new format includes each team’s drafted and undrafted rookies for the first time. The switch was designed to ensure each team had a customized orientation program for rookies to adjust to the community and NFL.

Denver, as well as the rest of the AFC, will host their programs June 22-24. The NFC programs are scheduled to run June 20-22.

Teams will be mandated to include core discussions on social responsibility, respect at work, mental health, character and values, and player engagement resources.Read more…

“In 2008 Liz and I began the journey of a lifetime,” he wrote. “8 years and 4 teams later we feel that it is time to call it a career in the NFL. When this journey began I was just hoping that I could make the team with extremely long odds in front of me as an undrafted rookie. I thought it would be amazing to say that I played a season or two with the Denver Broncos. I never imagined that God would keep opening door after door for me to continue in this game. I am incredibly grateful for His mercy, grace, and blessings He has given my family.”

Polumbus went on to his positional and head coaches over the years, as well as friends and family.

The former Colorado lineman and Denver native was signed by the Broncos as an undrafted free agent in 2008 and played two seasons before being waived in 2010. Stops in Seattle, Washington and Atlanta followed before he returned to Denver on a one-year deal last October to bolster a line that had been racked by injuries at left tackle.

Polumbus’ last NFL game was the Broncos’ Super Bowl 50 win over Carolina in Santa Clara, Calif.Read more…

Broncos defensive end Derek Wolfe is the star subject of a TMZ video released early Tuesday morning of a bar fight occurring this weekend at a nightclub in downtown Denver involving Wolfe and at least one other person.

In the video, Wolfe is seen in a black shirt and chain pushing his way through a crowd of people and arguing with a couple of club patrons. He eventually throws a punch with his right hand toward one of them. TMZ reported that Wolfe was hit with a bottle that left him bleeding.

Denver Police said the incident was never reported and they will not have a case against Wolfe unless someone files a complaint or new evidence is presented.

“Derek talked to us on Monday about the issue, and it’s been addressed internally,” Broncos vice president of public relations Patrick Smyth said.Read more…

In this Dec. 30, 2015, file photo, Mississippi State quarterback Dak Prescott (15) looks to pass against North Carolina State during the Belk Bowl NCAA college football game in Charlotte, N.C.

Former Mississippi State quarterback Dak Prescott will visit the Broncos facility Tuesday, per an NFL source.

Prescott, 6-foot-2, 226 pounds, was an athletic playmaker in college throwing for 3,793 yards, 29 TDs and five interceptions while also rushing for 588 yards and 10 touchdowns during his senior season. He showed dramatic improvement in throwing mechanics throughout his college career transitioning from a red-zone running quarterback to an accurate pocket passer completing 66.2 percent of his passes by senior season.

He was arrested for driving under the influence last month in Starkville, MS two days after his pro day. He later apologized for his mistake.

Von Miller and Witney Carson returned for Week 3 of “Dancing With the Stars” to perform a contemporary piece to one of Miller’s favorite songs, Phil Collins’ “In the Air Tonight.” The pair earned a score of 20 out of 30 from the judges …

“I just think that offense is more tailor-made for him,” Moon said of Denver’s system. “He doesn’t have to be as effective of a passer in that offense. It would probably be like a 48-52 ratio in passing and running, because that’s what Gary Kubiak wants to do. He wants to run the football a little bit more and be more of a play-action-type of passing game and get him out on the corner. He can also add the read-option as part of his arsenal.”

Kaepernick met with Broncos general manger John Elway last Thursday, an indication he’s still looking to get out of San Francisco. But his attendance Monday for the start of the 49ers’ offseason workout program is a sign he may not be willing to take a pay cut to join the Broncos. Kaepernick can receive a $400,000 workout bonus if he participates in 90 percent of the 49ers’ offeason program, and taking the money could give him leverage in discussions with the Denver.

It’s believed that the Broncos and 49ers could come to terms on draft pick compensation in a trade, but the sticking point is Kaepernick’s salary; the Broncos have only about $1.6 million in cap space.

Kaepernick could agree to restructure his contract to lower his base salary, or the Broncos could work out a deal with the 49ers where San Francisco would pay part of Kaepernick’s salary in exchange for a higher pick.

If the teams can work out an agreement, Moon is hoping Kaepernick accepts any required revision to his deal to make the move.

“I think it’s a perfect situation for Colin and he gets to be around John Elway, he gets to be around Gary Kubiak, who was a quarterback, so you’ll have good mentorship around you,” Moon said. “In San Francisco, he was around defensive-oriented coaches, like Jim Tomsula. When Jim Harbaugh, an offensive-minded guy, was there, that’s when he had his best year. I just hope his ego doesn’t get in the way, because they’re asking him to take a pay cut. He can make that money back.”

Max McCaffrey makes a catch in a 2014 game against Georgia Tech. (Scott Cunningham, Getty Images)

Former Duke receiver and the oldest son of Ed McCaffrey, Max McCaffrey, has pre-draft workout scheduled with the Broncos.

Max recently impressed at Duke’s Pro Day, recording a 4.4-second 40-yard dash that would have ranked third among receivers and 10th overall at the NFL scouting combine in February.

A former Valor Christian standout, Max had 52 catches for 643 yards and five touchdowns his senior season at Duke. In his four seasons total with the Blue Devils, he had 117 catches for 1,341 yards and 12 touchdowns.

Broncos players run through drills during 2015 OTAs. (John Leyba, The Denver Post)

Vacation is almost over for the Broncos. Their quest for a second consecutive title begins in earnest April 18, the start of their nine-week offseason workout program that ends June 16.

Organized team activities are divided into three phases with an increasing level of permitted activities.

Phase one allows for only strength and conditioning, as well as rehabilitation, and will last the first two weeks of the program.

The three-week phase two includes on-field workouts but no live contact drills.

And phase three, which runs the final four weeks of the program for a total of 10 days of OTAs, allows for 7-on-7, 9-on-7 and 11-on-11 drills, but still no contact. Within this phase, teams can hold a mandatory minicamp for veterans.Read more…

On March 6, Savannah Romero was involved in a motorcycle accident in North Dakota that left her in a coma and severely injured. The wife and mother of two was airlifted to St. Alexius Medical Center in Bismarck, N.D., and later transported to Swedish Medical Center in Denver.

After two weeks, the Romeros received a surprise phone call. The stranger on the other end just wanted to offer his support and well-wishes to the pair of Grand Junction natives and devoted Broncos fans. So Carlos held the phone up so his wife could hear as she lay motionless on the bed.

“Savannah, this is Peyton Manning. Hey, I just wanted to call and tell you that you’re in my thoughts and prayers. … I know you’re going through a tough fight right now,” he said. “Just want you to know that you have me on a list of people pulling for you and praying for you. Appreciate you being a big supporter and fan of mine. That means a lot. Just know that I’m a big fan and I’m pulling for you.”

On Tuesday, Savannah’s GoFundMe page was updated with news that she awoke from the coma and is in a semi-conscious state.Read more…

Chris Harris with the Lombardi trophy after returning from Super Bowl 50 in February. (Kathryn Scott Osler, The Denver Post)

LaDainian Tomlinson, a five-time Pro Bowl running back turned NFL Network analyst, said he believed there are no “shutdown” cornerbacks in the NFL nowadays, a comment that inevitably struck a chord with many of the game’s leading defensive backs.

In a roundtable discussion with Michael Robinson and Dan Hellie about whether free agent Josh Norman should be the highest-paid corner in the game, Tomlinson said: “Right now there are no shutdown corners. At all. There are none.”

Tomlinson weighed in after Robinson said he didn’t think Seattle’s Richard Sherman fell into the category of elites. When Hellie started running down the list of names some might view as shutdown corners — Darrelle Revis, Patrick Peterson — Tomlinson shook his head and said, “At this point, they’re still not shutdown corners.”

Broncos cornerback Chris Harris, who didn’t allow a touchdown in coverage for more than two years before a loss at Pittsburgh last season, took to Twitter on Tuesday to respond to Tomlinson’s comments and quickly received the backing of others:

Nicki Jhabvala is a Broncos beat writer for The Denver Post. She was previously the digital news editor for sports. Before arriving in Denver, she spent five years at Sports Illustrated working primarily as its online NBA editor. She also spent two years as a home page editor at the New York Times.